I have selected sixteen different positions filled by celestial beings. There are some additional categories of angels, but it’s challenging to identify their roles precisely. In most instances, their role is also covered by one of the categories I will discuss. I will separate these divine beings into four categories according to their functions: Angelic Hierarchy (Ephesians 6:12).
Assistants;
Sanctifiers;
Authorities;
Principalities & Powers;
In this episode, I will talk about the first group of angelic forces – Assistants. The first angels we will talk about in this group are *Ministers – Sharat – ministering spirits who serve at God’s direction. Hebrews 1:13-14 says angels are “ministering spirits” sent out by God to serve. In Luke 22, after the Last Supper, Jesus goes to a garden on the Mount of Olives, and he prays. In verse 43, Luke writes, “Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.”
About twelve years after the resurrection of Christ, many of the disciples are still in Jerusalem. Herod violently attacked the church because the Jews went to him constantly about their belief in a false Messiah. Herod arrested James, the brother of John, and had him beheaded. When Herod saw this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested to execute him also, and he assigned four squads of 4 soldiers each to guard him in prison. Let’s pick up the story in Acts 12:6-10. The church was praying for him.
Also, within this group of Ministering angels, there are Messengers: Malak—messengers/angels who bring a word to those as directed by God. In chapter 2 of Luke, angels announced the birth of the Messiah to some shepherds. In chapter 1 of Luke, the angel Gabriel told a priest, Zechariah, that God would answer his prayers. His wife Elizabeth was pregnant, and they named the child John. That child became John the Baptist (REF. Daniel 9:21-23).
The next angel categorized as a ministering spirit is *Watchers: ir – function is to observe and to be awake. Watchers observe human actions and events, report on what they see, and then carry out the judgments decided on from their reports. We see this explicitly laid out in Daniel. In chapter 4, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, has a dream that none of his magicians can interpret. So he calls for Daniel, a captive Jew who’s proven he can interpret dreams, and he tells him the dream. The king dreamt of a tree so tall the whole world could see it. Then, in verse 13, the king says, “As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called out loudly: Cut down the tree, chop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. The watchers reported Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance; from the report, a decree was given that he would be chopped down a few pegs (Daniel 4:16-17).
The final group of ministering angels is Witnesses: idem – witness or testifiers. These angels witness events or actions in the divine or earthly realm and then testify before God about the actions of elohim/angels or humans.
In Luke 15, there’s the parable of the lost coin. In this parable, when the woman finds the coin she lost, she calls all her neighbors to rejoice. In verse 10, Jesus says, “I tell you, in the same way, there will be joy in the presence of God’s angels (witnesses) over one sinner who repents (REF. Matthew 28:1-6).
From these heavenly assistants, we can see they are always on the job. God hears your prayers and has angels to help in our need. He has angelic messengers to give us words of encouragement and understanding. He has watchers observing everything going on in the world and our lives. Nothing is happening around you that God isn’t aware of; if things need to change, his watchers will change it. If things don’t change, there’s a reason for that also. And he has witnesses to testify for good and against evil. No one or nothing gets away with anything. The testimony they will give to God on the day of judgment will be whether someone believed or didn’t believe in Jesus Christ.
The Heavens Will Be Shaken